[closed]

[eternalshield]

Who: Zeno, Kaya, Chise
When: late July TBD
Where: [Metro Area]
What: Prayer 43: A prayer for strays

[...tell him he's the goddess of youth, but don't explain to him the exact subdomains and adjacent specialties thereof, and Zeno is going to take his own interpretations and run with them.

But this one, this one he's absolutely certain of.

A small girl, both of stature and years, who used her allowance to feed the stray cats so that they didn't disturb the birds... and now her parents were taking her on a long vacation.]

...though now Zeno wants to be sure this is all of them.

[It seems like every time he turns around, another cat appears to nuzzle his hand and wrap itself pleadingly around his ankles.

He bends to scratch this little tom behind its ears. He'd be lying, too, if he said he didn't identify with these strays just a little. After the king had passed away, he'd lingered until he'd been... not chased away, but he'd recognized that the new people in the castle were beginning to resent his presence. Not really a good feeling...]

We can stay and play with them a while, right? [He's asking the two shinki.] Just feeding them and leaving seems cold...

Comments

[eternalshield]

Mm, especially since we're so low to the ground as it is...

[And her laughing is enough for him to laugh from sheer joy.]

Right, right! He has to feel safe and loved and snuggly!!

[fadingsunshine]

[Zeno and kittens is probably two of the cutest things put together, so of course she's enjoying it.]

Here we go, kitty! Upsa-daisy!

[She picks the animal up with ease. The one she chose was a really calm feline so she doesn't squirm in her arms. Quite the opposite, she relaxes immediately. Kaya can feel a sound that's oddly similar to the cars and motorcycles that roam at the Near Shore. The cat's soft body starts vibrating with a rhythm that goes with the little noises. This makes Kaya emotional, but in a happy way.]

Zeno! It's purring!!

[eternalshield]

The missy who prayed for these little ones... she'd be relieved to know you've made them so happy!

[He gives her kitten a little scratch under his chin.]

What will we do when she comes back? Think she'll notice us coming to visit them?

[fadingsunshine]

Oh, I really hope so! [She moves one of her hands, the one that was between the legs, in a way she can hold the kitty's head and also scratch her chin like Zeno's doing. The fluffy creature just purrs harder.] But more importantly, these little guys are feeling less alone and more loved now! That's just as important as the prayer, isn't it?

[She shrugs, still basking in the cat's love and Zeno's cuteness. It's hard to get worried in this situation.]

No idea, but we'll think of something if she sees us!

[eternalshield]

Of course it is!

[If only this was every youth's prayer!]

It's probably a secondary goal of what she prayed for. Anyway, people don't always get what they prayed for, exactly; better we do better!

Is this the kind of prayer you want to keep answering?

[fadingsunshine]

I kind of want to become this girl's friend, she seems so kind. I've heard it's hard for shinki to befriend humans, though.

You sounded really wise all of a sudden! But then we have to be clever enough to figure out what to do about it every time, right? Is that a god's job, you think? [Because it seems a bit hard, especially if it's something the believer needs but doesn't want. Kaya's not sure she'd be able to do it if she were the god.

She giggles.] Yup, I enjoyed it a lot! Although it's fine if you want to answer other less fluffy types if you think we can help. If we only do this kind, there's so little you can do. [A teasing smile.] But you're really liking this one too, aren't you, Zeno? [Don't use her as an excuse to handpick more with animals, you softie.]

1/2

[eternalshield]

...sudden...?

[Ow, his pride. Little used as it is...]

[eternalshield]

Something ought to be a god's job, and thinking how to answer prayers is as good as any other. It seems in the old stories, gods take too often the first idea that comes to mind...

[Thank goodness for Hiryuu fighting back against his dear old fraternity and their first idea...]

Maybe I ought to be the god of little things. Gods are so big and concerned with so much... things like this get lost in the shuffle, and this isn't unimportant just because the stakes are so low!!

...but yes, this is something Zeno really does enjoy doing!!